The Defending Champion Started with a Victory, All Four Leading Seeds in the Quarterfinals

Home , 2021 ATP Challenger Tour, Bernabe Zapata Miralles, Daniel Altmaier, Richard Gasquet

Daily News #ATPUMAG • #31atpumag • OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE ATP TOURNAMENT• No4 • 23.07.2021. THE DEFENDING CHAMPION STARTED WITH A VICTORY, ALL FOUR LEADING SEEDS IN THE QUARTERFINALS

The main favorites lived up to expectations and on Friday the quarter- Defending champion from 2019, Lajović (pictured) did not lose the final program at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open will be marked by top set, but that does not mean that he easily reached the victory against tennis! After the first (Albert Ramos-Vinolas) and fourth seed (Richard increasingly better Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles, who just recently Gasquet) made it to the third round on Wednesday, the day after they reached the best placement in his career (120th). He won with a score were joined by the two remaining players who were free at the start, 7:5, 6:4, and probably the key moment happened in the tenth game Dušan Lajović (2nd) and Filip Krajinović (3rd). This is the first time since of the first set, when the Spaniard had two set points with a 5:4 lead. 2012 that all four leading seeds entered the quarterfinals in Umag! (continued on p. 6) Daily News

RASPORED MEČEVA – PETAK, 23. SRPNJA 2021. STADION GORAN IVANIŠEVIĆ GRANDSTAND

16:30 17:00 Damir Džumhur (BIH) vs. Radu Albot (MDA) Richard Gasquet (FRA) Pedro Martinez (ESP) vs. Fernando Romboli (BRA) ne prije 19:00 David Vega Hernandez (ESP) Daniel Altmaier (GER) vs. Dušan Lajović (SRB) ne prije 19:00 Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) vs. slijedi Stefano Travaglia (ITA) Filip Krajinović (SRB) vs Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) slijedi Tomislav Brkić (BIH) Nikola Ćaćić (SRB) vs. Ivan Sabanov (CRO) Plava LagunaMatej Sabanov Croatia (CRO) Open Umag

CITY, COUNTRY TOURNAMENT DATES SURFACE TOTAL FINANCIAL COMMITMENT Umag, Croatia 19-25 July 2021 Red Clay € 481,270 STATUS NAT MAIN DRAW SINGLES

1 1 ESP RAMOS-VINOLAS, Albert A. RAMOS-VINOLAS [1] 2 BYE A. RAMOS-VINOLAS [1] 75 64 3 Q ARG COLLARINI, Andrea D. AJDUKOVIC 4 WC CRO AJDUKOVIC, Duje 63 62

5 ESP TABERNER, Carlos C. TABERNER 6 WC CRO SERDARUSIC, Nino 62 62 S. TRAVAGLIA 64 63 7 ITA TRAVAGLIA, Stefano S. TRAVAGLIA 8 6 ESP MUNAR, Jaume 63 76(1)

9 3 SRB KRAJINOVIC, Filip F. KRAJINOVIC [3] 10 BYE F. KRAJINOVIC [3] 64 62 11 WC DEN RUNE, Holger Vitus Nodskov R. ALBOT 12 MDA ALBOT, Radu 16 63 62

13 LL ARG OLIVO, Renzo A. MARTIN 14 SVK MARTIN, Andrej 16 62 76(1) C. ALCARAZ [7] 63 61 15 FRA POUILLE, Lucas C. ALCARAZ [7] 16 7 ESP ALCARAZ, Carlos 36 62 62

17 5 SLO BEDENE, Aljaz M. CECCHINATO 18 ITA CECCHINATO, Marco 61 64 D. DZUMHUR 63 61 19 BIH DZUMHUR, Damir D. DZUMHUR 20 Q SVK HORANSKY, Filip 64 63

21 Q ITA GIANNESSI, Alessandro A. GIANNESSI 22 CZE VESELY, Jiri 76(4) 75 R. GASQUET [4] 76(4) 64 23 BYE R. GASQUET [4] 24 4 FRA GASQUET, Richard

25 8 ITA MAGER, Gianluca G. MAGER [8] 26 ESP MARTINEZ, Pedro 06 63 63 D. ALTMAIER 46 61 75 27 Q GER ALTMAIER, Daniel D. ALTMAIER 28 FRA MOUTET, Corentin 57 61 00 Ret'd

29 ESP ZAPATA MIRALLES, Bernabe B. ZAPATA MIRALLES 30 URU CUEVAS, Pablo 46 62 64 D. LAJOVIC [2] 75 64 31 BYE D. LAJOVIC [2] 32 2 SRB LAJOVIC, Dusan

ATP, Inc. © Copyright 2014 2 SEEDED PLAYERS RANK PRIZE MONEY POINTS ALTERNATES / LUCKY LOSERS WITHDRAWALS 1 RAMOS-VINOLAS, Albert 41 WINNER € 41,145 250 R. Olivo (LL) S. Caruso (Groin Strain) 2 LAJOVIC, Dusan 43 FINALIST € 29,500 150 3 KRAJINOVIC, Filip 44 SEMI-FINALIST € 21,000 90 4 GASQUET, Richard 54 QUARTER-FINALIST € 14,000 45 5 BEDENE, Aljaz 56 SECOND ROUND € 9,000 20 RETIREMENTS/WALKOVERS 6 MUNAR, Jaume 66 FIRST ROUND € 5,415 0 C. Moutet - 7 ALCARAZ, Carlos 72 FOLLOW LIVE SCORING AT 8 MAGER, Gianluca 73 www.ATPTour.com LAST DIRECT ACCEPTANCE Dzumhur, Damir 126 ATP SUPERVISOR(S) Gerry Armstrong „After more than a year of living in pandemic circumstances, we are looking forward to the return of the ATP tournament in Umag, which will bring together the tennis elite and offer many visitors attractive and diverse con- tent. This additionally positions Croatia as a well-prepared and organized, but also a significant sports and tourist destination. Precisely for this reason, this year the Croatian National Tou- rist Board is again the oldest and most prestigious tournament in Croatia, which presents Umag, Istria and Croatia in the most beautiful way. At this moment, safety and a good epidemiological situation are the main me- ssages we send to the world and that is why I wish everyone a safe and pleasant stay in our country while adhering to all prescribed epidemiological measures, but also enjoy top tennis and long- awaited vacation.“ Director of the Croatian Na- tional Tourist Board Kristjan Staničić

Photo: Marko Todorov/Cropix

3 Daily News

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Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag

CITY, COUNTRY TOURNAMENT DATES SURFACE TOTAL FINANCIAL COMMITMENT Umag, Croatia 19-25 July 2021 Red Clay € 481,270 STATUS NAT. MAIN DRAW DOUBLES

BIH BRKIC, Tomislav 1 1 SRB CACIC, Nikola T. BRKIC N. CACIC [1] CRO AJDUKOVIC, Duje 64 36 10-8 2 WC CRO NINCEVIC, Frane T. BRKIC N. CACIC [1] 62 62 3 CZE JEBAVY, Roman CZE VESELY, Jiri R. JEBAVY J. VESELY ESP TABERNER, Carlos 75 63 4 ESP ZAPATA MIRALLES, Bernabe

VEN MARTINEZ, Luis David 5 4 NZL SITAK, Artem I. SABANOV M. SABANOV

6 CRO SABANOV, Ivan 36 76(1) 10-6 CRO SABANOV, Matej I. SABANOV M. SABANOV 75 60 7 ITA CARUSO, Salvatore ITA MAGER, Gianluca D. DZUMHUR A. SANCIC BIH DZUMHUR, Damir 67(6) 62 10-6 8 CRO SANCIC, Antonio

9 MDA ALBOT, Radu ESP MARTINEZ, Pedro R. ALBOT P. MARTINEZ

10 GER BEGEMANN, Andre 64 76(5) SVK ZELENAY, Igor R. ALBOT P. MARTINEZ 64 61 11 ITA CECCHINATO, Marco ITA TRAVAGLIA, Stefano M. CECCHINATO S. TRAVAGLIA BRA MATOS, Rafael 75 64 12 3 BLR VASILEVSKI, Andrei

ESP LOPEZ, Marc 13 PR ESP MUNAR, Jaume F. ROMBOLI D. VEGA HERNANDEZ 75 46 10-5 14 BRA ROMBOLI, Fernando ESP VEGA HERNANDEZ, David F. ROMBOLI D. VEGA HERNANDEZ CRO KALENDER, Admir 36 75 16-14 15 WC CRO POLJICAK, Mili A. KALENDER M. POLJICAK URU CUEVAS, Pablo 63 64 16 2 FRA MARTIN, Fabrice

SEEDED TEAMS RANK PRIZE MONEY (PER TEAM) POINTS ALTERNATES/LUCKY LOSERS RETIREMENTS/WALKOVERS 4 1 BRKIC, Tomislav / CACIC, Nikola 101 WINNER € 15,360 250 2 CUEVAS, Pablo / MARTIN, Fabrice 165 FINALIST € 11,000 150 3 MATOS, Rafael / VASILEVSKI, Andrei 165 SEMI-FINALIST € 7,250 90 4 MARTINEZ, Luis David / SITAK, Artem 195 QUARTER-FINALIST € 4,710 45 WITHDRAWALS FOLLOW LIVE SCORING AT www.ATPTour.com FIRST ROUND € 2,760 0

LAST DIRECT ACCEPTANCE: Adv 285 ATP SUPERVISOR(S) Gerry Armstrong COLUMN BY GORAN IVANIŠEVIĆ TOMISLAV POLJAK, TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR THE MEDALS SHINE PERFECTLY; KEY THE SAME PLAYERS ARE WINNING

The tennis tournament at the renown Olympic village… I don't After the fourth day of the the only qualifier in the quarterfinals Olympic Games in Tokyo will start even know what to call it. But again, tournament we can say that things, and a player who has won four any moment, and when it does, we all athletes come to win a medal and as far as tennis is concerned, are going matches in these few days in the will carefully follow our ace, in what if they succeed in that, those medals almost perfectly. The vast majority manner that he lost the first set in will be, I hope, a real medal hunt. I saw will always be gold, silver and bronze, of key players win and that makes each. King of turnarounds, we already the draw and I would say the chances with or without the audience, with us very happy. call him that. Subjectively speaking, I are not bad for the first round to be or without a mask. The medals will am very happy for him because he is Let's start with the youngest: Carlos successful for everyone. Čila is playing always shine the same. our client, we take care of his career Alcaraz once again showed fantastic against Brazilian Menezes in the first in Starwing, and I am glad that after Clearly, there is always a difference tennis. He really dominated over round, I think it is completely clear problems with a series of injuries he is in the feeling when comparing Andrej Martin, winning 11 of the last who is the favorite here. After that, showing great tennis again, kind of like playing in the Olympics and playing 12 games. He has shown a whole the opponent should be the Spaniard when he got to Roland Garros round in tournaments. I don't know if it's arsenal of his solutions, incredible Carreno Busta, very uncomfortable of 16 as a qualifier last year, defeating, proper to say “the difference is maturity, and impresses with ease by on concrete court, but not invincible. among others, the Italian Berettini. heaven and earth” - it both is and which he plays. It’s almost amazing French Garcia, who is good, is waiting isn't. Out there you play not for how it works. He announced the The remaining two quarterfinal pairs for Donna Vekić, but if Donna plays a yourself, but for your country, for right things for Friday, when Filip are known from the day before. The real match, I see no reason not to win. the athletes who are with you… The Krajinović will be waiting for him in program will be opened on Friday And then we move to doubles, where feeling is fantastic when you climb the evening match. by Richard Gasquet and Damir Mektići and Pavić are the first seeds, on the podium, when the anthem Džumhur, and there is also a match Last week's series 500 tournament but I would not say that they got lucky is playing, it's hard to describe, it has Travaglia – Ramos-Vinolas. There finalist quite routinely defeated Radu with this draw, it will not be easy for to be experienced. It is more than is something to be said about the Albot, who is not on that level. Filip them. Demoliner and Melo, that's a anything. fact that the first seed will play at the has shown that he feels good here, good couple. Soares was supposed Grandstand on Friday, and not at On the other hand, we all know that and Friday’s match could be the to be there, but he dropped out due the stadium, which we are certainly the Olympic medal in tennis is not match of the tournament, if both to illness, but even with the change sorry about. like in other sports, we stick more live up to expectations. in the pair, he is no less a dangerous to the Grand Slam tournament, but For doubles, big congratulations to opponent. It’s different with Čilić Before that, our current winner Dušan we are still drawn by the desire to the Sabanov brothers, now the first and Dodig, I don’t think Nishioka Lajović, who started successfully, will better represent our country. Look seeds are waiting for them. Bad luck of and Daniel should endanger them. be playing. It was not an easy task, at Novak Djokovic, who is the best the day are our guys, Admir Kalender Bernabe Zapata Miralles also had two It will be a significantly different in the world, he won everything that and Mili Poljičak, who had four match set points in the first section in which Olympics than any other. There will can be won under the sun and now points and were close to reaching the the title defender was a little lost. not be the Olympic atmosphere we he desperately wants an Olympic semifinals in their debut on the ATP are used to. There is no audience, no medal. I wish him to succeed. Now he is awaited by Daniel Altmaier, Tour. But their time is yet to come.

5 Daily News FINALS IN HAMBURG, A GOOD START IN UMAG

the eighth finals on Thursday, he One of those appearances in the defeated Moldovan Albot 6:4, 6:2. finals, and certainly the most significant one, is the 2017 at the On Friday, he will play against the Bercy Hall in Paris, at the Masters excellent young Spaniard Carlos 1000 series tournament. This way Alcaraz, but there are no more weak he became the first qualifier in opponents in the finals. He says tournaments of this rank since it is important to him that he is in the Pole Janowicz in the same good shape. place in 2012, and also the lowest ranked finalist (he was 77th) in “In my career I played in the fi- the Masters 1000 series since the nals of the Masters 1000 series, American Mardy Fish in Indian Filip Krajinović, a 29-year-old tennis made, as usual, according to the now a finalist in the 500 rank and Wells in 2008. player from Serbia, did not have ranking list from last week. that means a lot to me. Hamburg much time to enjoy another top has a nice tradition, it is a strong “I play better tennis today than result: on Sunday he played in the “I took a day off on Monday, arri- tournament, and I beat Stefanos I did then, for sure. I have more final of the tournament in Hamburg, ved in Umag on Tuesday, had one Tsitsipas there, who currently had experience, more victories over and a week brings new challenges training session and all in all I am the best results on Earth after tennis players ranked among the to him, this time in Umag. At this satisfied with how it went. I can't Novak Đoković. I played well, top ten… On the other hand, I year's Plava Laguna Croatia Open, wait for the quarterfinals,” said which is quite important, and have never played in such a big he is the best ranked player (34th), Krajinović, who, as one of the four came with a lot of confidence. I final and I am still waiting for the but not the first seed, because the leading seeds, had the privilege hope to win a tournament soon, first title.” list of placed tennis players was of being free in the first round. In I have played four finals so far.” THE DEFENDING CHAMPION STARTED WITH A VICTORY, ALL FOUR LEADING SEEDS IN THE QUARTERFINALS approached the finals, because that the lead 3: 1, but it didn't take long is the quarterfinals,”said Lajović. for Alcaraz's answer: he won five games in a row. In the second half, This is his third entry into the qu- Martin made a break in the ope- arterfinals of Umag and the third ning game, and after that came quarterfinal on clay this year. His an even longer series for Spanish next opponent will be the tennis tennis players, who did not lose a player who has surprised the most game until the end of the match. so far - it is the German Daniel Altmaier, who arrived from the In the doubles competition, the qualifications. On Thursday, after a first seed Tomislav Brkić and Ni- great fight and a match that lasted kola Čaćić passed the second ro- an hour and 50 minutes, he knoc- und smoothly, and on Friday, the (continued from p. 1) two years have passed, the good ked out the eighth seed, the Italian Croatian duo, Ivan and Matej Sa- feeling and emotions are still there. Gianlucu Mager (4:6, 6:1, 7:5). banov, are waiting for them in the Lajović got away, punished him That helped me in a way, because fight for the finals. Admir Kalender with a break in the next game and part of the euphoria was still there. 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Al- and Mili Poljičak needed very after that he more or less kept the But it was not easy, this guy plays caraz also made it to the quarter- little to get in the semifinals, but match under control. very good tennis on clay, especially finals at the end of the evening the young Croatian tennis players in these conditions, where it is program, defeating the 2016 Umag suffered a defeat in a dramatic “On the one hand, there was pre- difficult to score the ball. It's not finalist, Slovak Andrej Martin 6:3, match, missing as many as four ssure, because it was the first match bad that I started with a difficult 6:1. At the beginning of the match, match points. In the end, the Bra- after winning the title, and on the match, so I think I'm ready. Alt- it didn't seem that the outcome zilian Romboli and the Spaniard other hand, I had a good feeling on hough this was the first match for could be like that, because the Vega Hernandez celebrated with the court. Although not one, but me, I can say that I have already Slovak started furiously and took the result 3:6, 7:5, 16:14.

6 NEW STRONG CROATIAN ACES IN COUPLES COMPETITION THE TWINS FROM SUBOTICA ARE GETTING BETTER circumstances have changed, pe- “We are rising very slowly in the ran- ople have expectations kings, although we have solid results at the level of the ATP tournament. “It was our first ATP tournament Points are not lost in full, but only in our career, so we were under half. As an example, last year it took pressure and we were nervous. 800 points to enter the top 100, and But with the performance itself, now 1100. ATP Challenger is hard in the end, after we had time to to progress at this level, so we try think, we were actually satisfied. to take every opportunity we have And in generally we like to play in ATP tournaments. So far, we are here, we have full support and we doing well, and we hope that there use it,” said 29-year-old Matej will be more good results by the Sabanov. end of the year,” said Ivan.

Nikola Mektić and Mate Pavić way to high positions for seve- Just this week, the twins from Entering the semifinals will bring the have been the best pair in the ral years, but this year they have Subotica reached the best place- Sabanov brothers close to entering world for some time now, Ivan made the biggest move. In April, ment on the ATP list of doubles the top 100, and they say that is Dodig has the status of a legend they received a wild card and won players, 109th place. Looking from their goal by the end of the season. when it comes to the doubles the ATP tournament in Belgra- the outskirts, it doesn't look like competition, and Franko Šku- de, and now they are doing great anything particular, especially “When we made plans at the be- gor was not so long ago among in Umag as well: on Thursday, not from the perspective of the ginning of the year, that was one of the twenty leading players in the they defeated Antonio Šančić players from the first sentence of our goals. We were lucky to receive world. But as much as the sky is and Damir Džumhur 7:5, 6:0, and this text, but those who know a wild card in Belgrade and win the clear when it comes to Croatian advanced to the semifinals. little more about the background tournament. We were in the semifi- doubles, it seems that there co- are aware of how difficult it is to nals at the second ATP tournament uld be some new names flying. This is their second appearance break through, even with good in Belgrade, we played in two finals These are, of course, the Sabanov in Umag, after they stopped at results, due to a slightly changed at the ATP Challengers… We hope brothers, Ivan and Matej, who the first hurdle in 2018, with an ranking system compared to years that we will reach the finals in Umag have been gradually making their 8:10 defeat in the third set. Now previous to corona virus. on Friday,” added Ivan. PORSCHE AS THE OFFICIAL VIP CAR AT THE 31ST PLAVA LAGUNA CROATIA OPEN UMAG TOURNAMENT

Porsche Centar Zagreb took While Porsche Inter Auto provided care of the selected guests and the selected cars for the main stars partners of the tournament; of the tournament - the players giving Porsche Cayenne and themselves. Seat, Cupra, Škoda, Porsche Panamera the role of and Volkswagen brands provided VIP transfer and offered their players with the most important customers a special feeling thing; comfort and spaciousness of luxury, comfort and con- to always feel relaxed, comfortable, venience. and ready for upcoming matches.

7 discover your story at croatia.hr Daily News ITF WHEELCHAIR CROATIA OPEN UMAG BY HEP

competitors are participating in the tournament, and already in the first round we have a Croa- tian derby Miloš - Maretić. Sven Maretić emphasized that they never played against each other, so I expect a good match, which I hope will not be ruined by the heat. hout them we would not be able to organize the tournament, so I Anto Joskić about the expectations thank them from the bottom of from the tournament: "We have 11 my heart once again. The Croatian competitors from five countries. Wheelchair Tennis Association A very important ITF WHEELCHA- The organizer of this tournament We have four players from Cro- is organizing this tournament in IR CROATIA OPEN UMAG by is Anto Joskić, the best Croatian atia - besides me there are Sven order to promote sports because HEP tournament will be played on wheelchair tennis player, who sta- Maretić from Split, Dražen Mikšić we want as many people with disa- Friday at Umag Tennis Academy. ted on this occasion: “It all started and Jozo Miloš. Sponsorship from bilities as possible to get involved in 2018 when I participated in one HEP is very important to us, wit- with sports,” said Joskić. This is a wheelchair tennis tourna- of the Conversations about Sports ment that is being held for the se- forums, after which the director cond time this year during the Plava of the executive board of the Laguna Croatia Open. Wheelchair tournament Arlen Brozić and our tennis is one of the most develo- sponsor HEP proposed holding ped and fastest growing sports this tournament. I hope that this for people with disabilities in the tournament of ours will become world, and during the Plava Laguna part of the tradition of the Umag Croatia Open Umag visitors will tournament.” have the opportunity to watch some of the best tennis players A draw was held today, which in the world. brings us interesting matches. 11 Full of flavours Don’t fill your life with days, fill your days with life. OSCAR'S CORNER

SELECTION OF OFFICIAL SOUVENIRS In the second round of the tournament, four matches were played. If you’re looking for the right gift to take with friends or I would like to single out my family, you don’t have to look comment on Dušan Lajović's game far. Right at the entrance to against Bernabe Zapata Miralles. Lajo- photo by maja danica pečanić danica maja by photo the ATP zone, next to the vić defeated the Spanish tennis player welcome office, there is an with an excellent game in an hour official souvenir shop where and a half. We will be able to follow you can buy men's, women's Lajović in the quarterfinals against and children's T-shirts, hats French tennis player Richard Gasquet, and caps, tennis balls in small which makes us extremely happy. and large sizes, a great gadget for collecting autographs du- The match between Gianluca Mager ring the tournament and best and German Daniel Altmair was exci- memories in Umag. ting and uncertain, and ended with the victory of the German tennis player. Here you can buy beach towels, but also umbrellas Gasquet, Altmair and Krajinović have to remember the great atmos- off to the quarterfinals, and we want phere of Umag and the most all of them to play good matches. beautiful summer memories Written by Oskar Visintin even on rainy days.

8 photo by brotherside by photo photo by brotherside by photo discover your story at croatia.hr

Full of flavours Don’t fill your life with days, fill your days with life. photo by maja danica pečanić danica maja by photo

9 photo by brotherside by photo photo by brotherside by photo Daily News NENO BELAN AND FIUMENSI Energija

Neno Belan & Fiumensi en- tertained the audience after exciting tennis matches. At the Dance Arena, those koja pokreće gathered enjoyed Nena's biggest hits until 2 in the morning. Good music, great eno-gastronomic offer, and exciting tennis matches were a guarantee of good fun for Hrvatsku this beautiful Umag evening.

Tonight, the popular cellist Ana Rucner will perform at the Dance Arena, who will bring additional passion with her extravagance before the end of the tournament.

DELICACIES THAT SPAN THE ADRIATIC

Croats love prosciutto and have cultivated two supreme varieties – Dalmatian and Istrian. Both varieties are dried in the Bura wind and aged for at least a year. Istrian pršut is brushed with laurel leaves, rosemary, pepper, and garlic, while Dalmatian pršut is coated with a blend of hard flour and lard, and then slowly cold smoked. With delicacies such as these you must definitely taste some top Croatian wines – Istrian Teran with Istrian pršut, Photo: Maja Danica Pečanić / CNTB and Dalmatian Plavac Mali with Dalmatian pršut.

10 Energija koja pokreće Hrvatsku